§ 32. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation whereby tenants of council houses who wish to purchase their houses may be enabled to do so?
§ Sir K. WOODLocal authorities already have power under the Housing Act, 1925, to sell houses erected by them, and a number of local authorities have adopted schemes for the sale of houses to tenants and others. It does not appear that further legislation on the point is necessary.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the hon. Gentleman say whether, in regard to local authorities that have not got schemes, he can take power to compel them to do so?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is a very difficult matter to ask Parliament to do. A large number of local authorities are taking advantage of the powers they already have.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in some districts there are hundreds of houses built for 1451 selling purposes and that no purchasers can be found; and is he also not aware that, if it were possible to enable people to get these house without having to put down 10 per cent. of the purchase price, thousands of working people might buy them?
§ Sir K. WOODI cannot answer as to the exact case the hon. Gentleman has in mind. A very large number of local authorities—I think the local authority in the constituency of the hon. Gentleman opposite—have schemes whereby persons puting down £10 and paying amounts of instalments can purchase their own houses.